Newton basketball coach Jake Bennett is in his second season leading the Cardinal’s girls basketball program. All his prior coaching involved men’s or boys basketball. 

Before coming to Newton, Bennett was an assistant varsity coach under Joe Steinkamp at Central College in Pella, and was the head junior varsity coach at Central. His first two years in Newton were spent on the coaching staff for the boys basketball teams. He was the head 9th grade coach and an assistant junior varsity coach. 

Bennett says it’s been a big switch from the faster paced men’s style of basketball to the high school level, and then from boys to girls basketball. But he adds it’s a change he’s grown to love.

“The biggest thing I love is the camaraderie and the team atmosphere the girls have. They always want to compete for each other and play with each other. I think in boys basketball there is a little bit of I want to be the person who rises to the occasion. Whereas in girls basketball it seems like it’s more we are doing this together.”

In Bennett’s first season as a head coach, the Newton girls basketball team finished 7-15 overall and 1-11 in the conference. So far this season, the team is 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference. 

The Newton girls basketball team will travel to Class 4A #8 Dallas Center Grimes this coming Tuesday, December 17th. The 6 p.m. game is a make up from Friday’s cancellation and can be heard live on the KRLS3 stream. Pre-game coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. with the Cardinal boys game to follow the girls matchup.